Invitation for bids from private firms

The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) is to soon invite bids from private firms for mechanisation of one of its general cargo berths, most probably the berth EQ3.

The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) is to soon invite bids from private firms for mechanisation of one of its general cargo berths, most probably the berth EQ3.

The Paradip Port Trust (PPT) is to soon invite bids from private firms for mechanisation of one of its general cargo berths, most probably the berth EQ3. ?The details of the arrangement to be firmed up with the selected bidder are being worked out, ? Mr K. Raghuramaiah, Chairman, PPT, told Business Line.

?But one thing is certain; the port will not invest anything though it will stand to gain by way of revenue-sharing with the selected bidder to be responsible for proposed mechanisation.?

The productivity of some of the port"s general cargo berths being manually operated is low, the Chairman said, pointing out that partial mechanisation was already in force in three of the total of eight general cargo berths and the experience had been satisfactory.

For example, three mobile harbour cranes supplied by private firms were currently deployed in three berths ? CQ1 and CQ2 and EQ1 ? and the productivity of these berths improved substantially following deployment of the cranes.

There was, therefore, a further proposal to deploy two more mobile harbour cranes in two berths ? EQ2 and EQ3 ? to replace the low capacity ELL (electric level laughing) cranes currently operating in these berths, Mr Raghuramaiah said.

In all the three berths where mobile harbour cranes are operating, the port authorities collect the revenue from the users and share it with the operators.

?The initial arrangement of allowing the operators to collect the revenue from the users for subsequent sharing with the port authorities did not work satisfactorily,? Mr Raghuramaiah said, adding, ?We"re examining what could still be the better way of equipping CQ3?.